Top 10 retirement havens revealed: Isle of Wight most popular, but future pensioners plan to snub the sleepy seaside

Retirees in Britain really do like to be beside the seaside, with millions settling on the coast after the end of their working lives.

The Isle of Wight has been identified as the UK's 'retirement capital', with more than 40 per cent of its residents claiming the state pension, with Dorset, Sussex and East Anglia other popular destinations for pensioners.

But, research from retirement firm LV suggests that British retirees will not always crave the sound of the sea, with a survey of those who have not yet retired predicting a 'retirement revolution'.

Most popular: The Isle of Wight (left) and Dorset (right) are among the top locations for pensioners in the UK.

Almost half of those surveyed listed proximity to family as their main priority in retirement, and some 43 per cent said being close to good public transport networks was essential.

And the next generation of pensioners are also looking to lead a busy social life post-retirement, with access to bars, restaurants, culture and entertainment also ranking high on their list of priorities.

Only 19 per cent said being by the sea was their main aim for their later years.

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Ray Chinn, head of pensions at LV, said: 'It’s clear that when you ask people about what they want in retirement
their aspirations tend to mirror more closely their lifestyle today,
rather than one which we would typically associate with a pensioner.'

Two-thirds of pre-retirees told LV that
they want to continue living independently in their own home once they
retire, either alone or with their partner.

Least popular: London boroughs including Battersea (left) have the lowest proportion of state pension claimants, along with areas of Glasgow (right) and Birmingham

However there is a growing shift towards
intergenerational living in retirement, with 10 per cent of 18 to
34-year-olds saying they would wish to live with their future extended
families, compared to just 4 per cent of those aged 55 or over.

Unsurprisingly urban areas of London, Birmingham and Glasgow having the lowest proportion of state pensioners in the UK.

Family ties: The LV survey found that proximity to family would be the main priority for future pensioners when they come to retire, with being close to the sea languishing in seventh.

The most popular retirement destinations are made up predominantly by south and east coast locations.

But that may not always be the case, as with potentially lucrative final salary pension schemes closing to new members at a record rate, the upcoming generations of pensioners may not have the finances to afford coastal locations, which are typically more expensive.

In order to have the retirement they desire, the current workforce will have to make sure they have the savings to back it up, with research from Axa in November finding that the current working population on average will have to work until they are 70years old to achieve their desired retirement income.

Of course, with the retirement age continuing to increase over the next two decades, that won't be too far past the age at which they can claim their state pension.

Mr Chinn added: 'Regardless of how people feel when they actually reach retirement, to ensure that they can continue to enjoy their life to the full, they need to have planned their finances accordingly.'